The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1887-01-25
The Planters Monthly

The Hon. H. NJ. Whitney, editor of the
Planters NoHthlg, gives an interesting num-
Der for the initial one of volume six. The
Magazine is largely made up of interesting
correspondence from many experienced
hands. An editorial speaks of the Honolulu
Iron Works as doing fine business in a
healthy and legitimate way. Upwards of
$l6olOOO per annum IS spent by the concern
IN wages alone, while no less than twenty-one
plantations have been supplied with mills
from these works. A second editorial deals
with Ramie culture and points out the bonus
which has been voted by the Legislature for
the raising and preparing of ramie for
market. The editor has also collected a num-
Der of interesting notes, domestic and for
eIgn, which will be read with interest by his
subscribers. By far the most important part
of the magazine, however, is contained in
the correspondence. Here we have planters,
managers and engineers talking directly up
on the interests of the industry they are en-
gagged in, and these are invaluable. The use
of " Fertilizers on Hawaii" and the paper
on " Cultivation and fertilization of sugar
cane" are both practical. They do not deal
III generalities, they deal in facts. Not in
theoretical suggestion but TEEN with practi-
cal experience, tersely put.
The account of Mr.. S. L. Alexander's trip
across the Andes is pleasant reading The
account is by no means completed and the
4ICAI lLStdllLlcub VIII Do WdICQGu we
extract the following account of
CHIMBoRAzo.
Think of their crossing mountain over
l4,OU feet high, liable to be exposed to the
sudden storms of these high attitudes
Though the clouds were black and ominous
and we heard the muttering of thunder, we
had been fortunate enough to reach the
dreaded arrival" the highest point of the
pass IA, 2S6l with the storm breaking upon
us. From this point we should have seen
ChImborazo IN all its glory, but alas ! his
face was yelled, and we could see nothing
but the base of the mountain. A vigorous
use of the spur secured US a rapid descent on
the other side; but hardly had we dropped
6OO feet when the storm burst upon us with
all its fury. The believing of the thunder
as 1t rolled and reverberated and crashed
among the mountains was something terri
fc. l never heard the like before / am
told that thunder storms among the Ecua-
dorian mountains are almost unparalleled in
violence. With the thunder and lightning
came violent storm of rain, hail and sleet.
1t was we'll that had the protection of rub
bers. Slipping and sliding, We urged our
horses forward as fast as possible. It was a
bleak and dreary stretch of country through
which we passed Not sign of house or
a tree to be seen. But suddenly there was a
lull in the storm, and, for the space of
ten minutes, the clouds cleared away, and
right before US stood the majestic dome of
ChimboraZo. / felt that in that one glance
the dreamIof years had been realized. Here
stood at last before the imperial mountain.
face to face with the monarch of the Andes,
and was not disappointed, Aconcagua of
Chill, 3.6OO feet high, is higher than Chimbo-
razo, but somehow universal homage is paid
to ChlmborazO. The apparent hight of a
mountain depends OH several circumstances.
namely, its proximity, the angle of elevation.
and especially the hight OF the plain from
which 1t rises. | consider Mount Shasta. of
Northern California, as one of the most
magnificent mountains; all, it does not make
as overwhelming an impression OH the mind
as Chlmborazo. And the reason is that its
altitude above the adjacant slope is not 40
great. As near as | can recollect il is about
IA, $50 feet high. Phe hotel of Mr.. Sissop.
one of the finest points of observation. ia
about 1900 feet high. From this mint mn
TO the timber line, distance of some twelve
miles, the ascent is quite gradual The tim
Der line assume TO be about 10000 feet in
height. hence it has only about 400 feet of
abrupt ascent. The plain around Chimbo-
razO varies from 5000 to 10000 feet in
height. | assume that the mountain from
TINS point arises with the same degree of
abrUptness as Mount Shasta from the tinobar
line. As Chimborazo is p, 400 feet. If has
II 400 feet of ascent above the adjacent
slope, as compared to 800 feet of Monnt
Shasta. But to deal fairly with our CaIifor-
mia mountain, we must admit that the grad
ual and beautiful slope of the mountain from,
the plain upward adds much to the general
effect of the seeming altitude of the NOM
tain. Mount Shasta, taken in CONNECTION
with its surrounding, standing alone as il
does, is most beautiful mountain: nor does
ii lnck IN the element of grandeur. There i |
nothing beautiful In the snrr1uudinoe IS :
Chimborazo. Its sides are rent by FRONTAL |
chasms that seem to lead down to the con-
fines of the lower world. There are rents in
the side of ChimbOrazo Ill which Vesnyins
could be put away oat OF sight.
The Planters Monthly is a credit to Ha-
van and takes rank as high class sugar
magazlne-may 1t long continue to do SO.